Wednesday, August 20, 2014

On Thursday, September 4, we will
hold our Annual Meeting at The Ark Community and Sports Center, 25625
Highway 17, Waynesville, MO (on the north side of I-44). The meeting
is open to all residents in the region and stakeholders throughout the
state. There is no registration fee. We hope you will
participate.

The meeting will begin at
8:00 with registration, networking, and a light breakfast. The opening presentation will be at 8:30.

In the morning Tim Ford, CEO of
the national Association of Defense Communities, will discuss the importance of
regional support for military installations and what other communities are
doing to support their installations. We will then have four breakout
sessions, focusing on a Strong Region, to get updates on air
transportation, energy, healthcare, and K12 education.

Lunch, like breakfast, will be
free. We have invited US Senator Roy Blunt and US Senator Claire
McCaskill to be keynote speakers. They will discuss the importance of
Fort Leonard Wood to national security and the policy environment in which
Defense decisions will be made.

In the afternoon we have invited the Honorable
Katherine Hammack, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations,
Energy and the Environment (ASA/IE&E) to describe what is happening across
the Army with respect to installations. Dr. Rebecca Johnson from Fort
Leonard Wood has been invited to provide an installation update. Mike
Dunbar, the Chairman of the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement
Commission, will moderate a panel that will discuss state initiatives that
affect Fort Leonard Wood and other military installations in Missouri. We
have also invited our area state legislators to share their perspective on
state support for Fort Leonard Wood and the region.

We will also have three breakout
sessions focused on a Strong Fort Leonard Wood. They are Marketing
the Region and Fort Leonard Wood, Community/Military Partnerships, and Focus on
Military Families. The meeting will end at 4:30.

The Ark’s address is 25625, Highway 17,
Waynesville. Exit I-44 at the Buckhorn exit (153). Take Highway 17
north about 1/2 mile to get to the center.

Reception. On Wednesday, September 3, there will be an SOP reception
at the Hampton Inn in St. Robert. This pre-meeting event will provide
both a networking opportunity and a chance to meet some of the presenters that
will speak during the annual meeting. Reception will begin at 6 pm and last
until 7:30 pm. Appetizers and beverages will be provided. The event
is free and open to the public. Please sign up for the reception when you
pre-register.

The Sustainable
Ozarks Partnership (SOP) is building on the Fort Leonard Wood region’s
strong past and preparing the region for a sustainable future. We are a
nonprofit organization working to bring all of the region’s stakeholders to the
table to drive regional development and advocate for new or expanded military
and federal missions. Our region offers a high quality of life, excellent
education opportunities, and easy transportation access. We are transforming
the Fort Leonard Wood region.